Do meditation by observing the Master’s form. Learn worship by surrendering at the lotus feet of the Guru. Every word spoken by the Guru is a mantra and enlightenment is but the ultimate grace of the Guru‘

These lines from the Guru Gita are an all out proclamation of love and praise for the Guru. The Guru teaches the disciple about the Supreme and helps him to realise the Supreme within himself and in all creation. The story of Namadeva, a saint from Maharashtra illustrates the importance of Guru.

Namadeva had unusual grace in his life. Lord Vitthala (Krishna) of Pandharpur used to appear in physical form before Namadeva to eat the food served by him. Namadeva spoke to the Lord like we speak to each other. The Lord would dance to the songs sung by him. He was considered as a great saint of his time. Once there was a meeting at the home of Gora – the potter saint.

All the famous saints of that time were present – Jnaneshwar, Nivritti, Sopan, Muktabai and many others. Jnaneshwar asked Gora the potter to check if all the pots were baked well. Gora understood and took his stick and hit on the head of all the saints sitting there in the same manner that he did when he checked to see if the clay of the pot was baked. No one said a word. But Namadeva protested with angry words. He did not like being hit on the head with a stick. Muktabai remarked: this pot is not baked! Namadeva was angry and left the group in a huff and went straight to the temple of Vitthala. When he called out, the Lord appeared and he complained to the Lord. Instead of comforting him the Lord said: He who has not bowed to a Guru and not learnt from the Guru is incomplete. As Rama, I bowed to Sage Vashista and received from him spiritual knowledge. As Krishna, I went to ashram of Sage Sandipani and learnt from him. Go to Guru Visoba. You will find him in the Shiva temple of Mallikarjuna. Please him and learn from him. This will make you complete. There is no other way to be complete other than seeking refuge at the feet of the Guru!

Since he had no choice, Namadeva went to Mallikarjuna temple and located the Guru. Visoba was sleeping with his feet on the Shivalinga. Namadeva was shocked and said: I heard you are a great saint and you behave in this way? Visoba replied: I am an old man. I don’t have the energy to move my feet from the Shivalinga. Please place it elsewhere and get the reward for performing a good deed! Namadeva dragged the feet of Visoba and placed them in another spot. And suddenly a Shivalinga sprung from underground and supported the old man’s feet. Angry and frightened, Namadeva lifted the feet of the old saint and kept them in other places. And in each place a Shivalinga sprung up to support the feet of Visoba. Namadeva realised that Visoba was a great Guru and fell at his feet and sought to be his disciple. He understood that the miracle of the Shivalinga took place as Visoba had become one with Shiva and where Visoba was present – Shiva was present.

Namadeva stayed with Visoba and learnt spiritual practices from the Guru. He realised the Truth within him and around him. He saw himself as Vitthala and the world around him as the same Lord. When he went back to Pandharpur, there was a feast going on. Namadeva also sat down to eat. Bhakri – a bread made out of jowar cereal was served along with some ghee which was kept in a cup made of leaves. A dog came and grabbed the bhakri from Namadeva's leaf plate and ran. Namadeva grabbed the cup of ghee and ran after the dog. He cried out: O Vitthala, don’t eat the bhakri just like that. It is far too tough and dry. Let me soak it in ghee and give you. Then it will taste better!

Namadeva had realised the truth that all creation was the form of his Lord Vitthala. So he ran after the dog as he saw his Lord in him to feed him bhakri soaked in ghee. Later on when he met Lord Vitthala and embraced him, the Lord complained: after getting your Guru, you don’t have time for me! Namadeva replied: I have overcome the sense of duality and I don’t see you different from the Guru! You are both One. And Lord Vitthala remarked: the pot is now baked!

Though Namadeva spoke to the Lord and even fed him with his own hands, his realisation was incomplete as he did not have a Guru to teach him how to overcome the duality and see all Creation as One. That is why a Guru is needed!